350 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



heavy bloom, persistent, firm ; skin tough, thin, incHned to crack, 

 adherent with much purpHsh-red pigment ; flesh reddish-green, juicy, 

 tender, soft, fine-grained, aromatic, spicy ; good. Seeds free, notched, 

 sharp-pointed, dark brown. 



Clinton 



(Vulpina, Labrusca) 



WorthiJigton 



Clinton (Plate X) came into prominence because of vigor, 

 hardiness, friiitf illness and immunity to phylloxera. A serious 

 defect is that the vines bloom so early that the blossoms are often 

 caught by late frosts in northern climates. Other defects are : 

 the fruit is small and sour, and the seeds and skins prominent. 

 The fruit colors early in the season but does not ripen until 

 late, a slight touch of frost improving the flavor. Clinton 

 bears grafts well, making a quick and firm union with Labrusca 

 and Vinifera, and the vines are easily propagated from cuttings. 

 This variety has been used widely in grape-breeding, and its 

 blood can be traced in many valuable varieties. The offspring 

 of Clinton are usually very hardy, and this, taken with its other 

 desirable characters, makes it an exceptionally good starting- 

 point for breeding grapes for northern latitudes. Clinton is an 

 old sort, the Worthington, known as early as 1815, renamed; 

 it began to attract attention about 1840. 



Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Canes long, numerous, 

 slender, reddish-brown ; nodes enlarged, flattened ; shoots smooth ; 

 tendrils intermittent, sometimes continuous, bifid. Leaves hang until 

 late in the season, small, thin ; upper surface dark green, smooth ; 

 lower surface pale green, glabrous ; petiolar sinus deep, narrow, urn- 

 shaped ; basal and lateral sinuses shallow ; teeth ^vide. Flowers self- 

 fertile, open early ; stamens upright. 



Fruit mid-season. Clusters small, slender, cylindrical, uniform, 

 single-shouldered, compact ; pedicel short, very slender, smooth ; 

 brush tinged with red. Berries small, round, oval, purplish-black, 

 glossy, covered with thit'k Ijloom, adherent, firm; skin very thin, 



